Window



H. BARNES Jan. 13, 1970 WINDOW Filed June 18, 1968 ,y mmfw @www fl y a WW HW United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 49-447 3 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An improved window frame construction which permits installation or replacement of a broken window chain or sash cord without the necessity to remove the window sash, window frame stripping or panels; the improved frame comprising a conventional window frame having an access opening near the lower end thereof, which is normally closed by a ush cover plate, the opening permitting insertion of a -chain into the frame cavity, passing the same around a pulley, securing a weight on one end of the pulley and then securing the other end of the chain on a hook of a plug behind the cover plate.

This invention relates to windows.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved window construction which facilitates the replacement of a broken window chain and which may be replaced by an inexperienced person.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved window construction wherein the window chain may be replaced without removing the sash and which replacement does not require the removal of window stops, metal window stripping or parting strips which may be broken in the process of removal.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide `an improved window construction wherein the window chain may be replaced without defacing the painted windows and wherein shades, curtains or anything attached to the window need not be removed.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an interior elevational view of a window construction embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary interior elevational view of the window sash shown on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view shown alone of the chain guide member;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view shown alone of the chain hook plug;

FIG. 5 is an interior perspective view of the window frame and showing the weight access port and cover and FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the weight access port.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, 10 indicates generally a window frame including the usual sill 11 and the oppositely disposed vertical side portions 12, the inner faces of the vertical side portions 12 being provided with the usual vertically extending ridges 13 (FIG. 5) forming therebetween a groove adapted to receive the opposite sides ofthe window sashes 14.

The side portions 12 are provided with the hollow interiors 15 (FIG. 1) at the upper ends of which are rotatably mounted the pulleys 16 which extend outwardly through suitable openings into the tracks between the ridges 13.

Chains 17 pass over the pulleys 16, their outer ends extending downwardly within the hollow portions 15 and iixedly mounting the counterweights 18.

The vertical side portions 19 of the window sashes 14 are slidable between the ridges 13 and are provided with 3,488,885 Patented Jan. 13, 1970 ICC central vertically extending grooves 20 which receive downwardly therewithin the inner ends of the chains 17. A metal chain guide member indicated generally at 21 1s suitably mounted within each of the grooves 20 and includes a vertical portion 22 of tubular cross section and a downwardly and inwardly extending portion 23 also of tubular cross section and disposed at forty-five degrees to the vertical, the upper end of the vertical portion 22 being formed with the parallel inwardly extending lugs 24. Each of the side portions 19 is provided with an inclined opening 25 therethrough which communicates with the lower end of the inclined portion 23.

The chains 17 extending downwardly within the grooves 20 pass downwardly between the vertical portions 22 and are guided inwardly along the inclined portion 23 through the inclined openings 25 where they are secured to the window sash 14 by means of a hook 26 pivotally connected to `a plug 27.

Each of the side portions 12 at their lower ends above the sill 11 is provided with a rectangular weight access port 28 formed on three sides with a depressed ridge 29 adapted to support within the opening 28 a cover plate 30, the ends of the ridge 29 terminating short of the outer vertical side of the opening 28 and providing therebetween a slot 31 which receives therewithin a llange 32 formed along the inner vertical edge of the plate 30 whereby to retain the latter in position. Thus, the cover plate 30 when in position will lie flush with the outer face of the side portions 12.

To assemble, the chains 17 are rst fed over the pulley 16, and the lower ends secured to the counterweights 18 by means of the access ports 28. The chains 17 are then pulled until the weights 18 .are disposed adjacent the pulleys 16 whereupon the chains 17 are then cut to their proper length. The inner ends of the chains 17 are then fed downwardly, with the sashes 14 in position between the ridges 13, until the inner ends of the chains pass downwardly through the chain guides 21 and inclined openings 25. The lower ends of the chains are then secured to the hooks 26 carried by the plugs 27. The port cover plate 30 is then replaced.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit land scope of the present invention as dened by the appended claims.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of my inmention, what is claimed is:

1. A window construction comprising a window frame, upper and lower window sashes within said frame, said frame on the inner opposite vertical faces thereof being provided with track means slidably receiving the opposite vertical edges of said window sashes, the opposite vertical portions of each of said window sashes having a central vertical groove extending from top to bottom, the opposite sides of said window frame having hollow central portions aligned with said tracks, a pulley rotatably mounted at the upper end of each of said hollow portions and extending outwardly between said tracks, window chains passing over said pulleys and extending downwardly within said hollow portions, counterweight means secured to the lower ends of said chains within said hollow p0rtions, the inner ends of said chains extending downwardly within said grooves, a metal chain guide member positioned within each of said window sash grooves adjacent their lower ends, each chain guide member having a vertical tubular section with inwardly directed laterally opposed spaced lugs at its upper terminal end and a lower downwardly inclined tubular section substantially at 45 to the vertical tubular section having its lower terminal end and the inner terminal ends of said lugs abutting the bottom of its associated groove whereby to maintain the metal chain guide member in fixed Vertical position in its associated groove, and an inclined passage in the vertical portion of each window sash co-axial with the downwardly inclined tubular section of the metal chain guide member, both said metal chain guide member and inclined passage serving to guide the inner end of a chain therethrough, and a removable closure means fitted to the lower open end of each said inclined passage including pivoted hook means to which is releasably secured the lower inner end of a chain.

2. A window construction according to claim 1, the inner faces of the opposed vertical sides of said window frame each having a Weight access rectangular port, a C- shaped metal frame of less thickness than the inner Wall of the window frame fitted to snugly seat within each access port and providing an outer ledge thereabout, the upper `and lower legs of the metal frame having their free terminal ends spaced from one side of the rectangular port, a cover plate for each said port having a vertical inwardly extending ange, said cover plate for each port seating on said ledge in abutting engagement with said C- shaped metal frame and with its flange extending into the space provided between the upper and lower legs and said one side of the rectangular port such that the outer surface of the cover plate will lie fiush with the side surface of the inner face of the window frame, the outer ends of said chains being releasably connected to said counterweight means through said weight access ports upon removal of said cover plate.

3. A window construction according to claim 2, wherein said removable closure means for the lower terminal open end of the inclined passages securing the inner ends of said chains each comprises a fiat plug adapted to overlie the lower ends of said inclined openings, an integral lug on the inner side of each plug having ya horizontal opening, and said hook means being pivotally connected to the opening in a lug for vertical pivotal movement thereon, both said lug and hook means extending into the inclined passage.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,397,221 11/1921 Martin 49-448 1,568,327 1/1926 Eutin 49-448 FOREIGN PATENTS 12,871 5/1897 Great Britain.

J. KARL BELL, Primaly Examiner 

